U3A MANUREWA NEWSLETTER January – February 2018 NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, 12th February 1.30pm At ACACIA COVE President 267 1839 Vice President Secretary 266 9547 Treasurer Membership Pat James Pam Connon Warwick May Lorraine Butcher Secretary 13 Lothian Brae, 164 Wattle Farm Rd, Heather Hine Wattle Downs 2103 Wattle Downs 2103 Refreshments Speaker Sec Almoner Committee Newsletter Sec Peggy Foley Phil Sai-Louie Patricia Sundvick Nolarae Keown Doreen Lightfoot 2674047 A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME BACK TO U3A FOR 2018 A Message from Pat Happy New Year and my very best wishes for a fulfilling and healthy 2018. There is lots to look forward to with U3A in the next 12 months starting with NZ Opera in February and I know that Phil has lots of excellent speakers lined up after that. I am most grateful to Gaynor Falconer for stepping up to be our Treasurer; I know she'll do an excellent job and I would like to thank Lorraine for her sterling work over the past few years. All our Interest Groups are starting their meetings in February so we will be back to normal. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again; it seems like a long time since our Christmas lunch. OUR SPEAKER: The NZ Opera have confirmed that they are coming and this is what they've said: We want to share who we are and the great work we create and present as a company. We would love to let you and your group know of all the fantastic opportunities available to join us next year and talk to you about the work we do as one of New Zealand’s leading arts companies. We’ll also be able to inform you all of our 2018 line-up and share some brochures and flyers with additional information. LAST MEETING: was our Christmas Dinner on the 4th December at Acacia Cove and thank you to Pat and team for organising such a lovely lunch. It was great to relax and socialise for a while. I’m sure everyone enjoyed it. Host Group: Book Review Printed 04/03/2018 Page 1 of 4 01 U3A Newsletter 2018.docx GROUP REPORTS BOOK REVIEW meetings were held on the 5th December, 2nd January and 6th February ie (1st Tuesday) at 10am at the home of Dorothy and David Pinner. Convenor: Dorothy Pinner, Villa 196 Acacia Cove, 131 Wattle Farm Road, Wattle Downs. Phone 268 2305. As the Book Review Meetings were on the 5th December (after the 4th December meeting) and the meeting on the 2nd January and 6th February these reports will be presented at the next U3A 2018 meeting. Do join us if you would like to. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 6th March 2018 (the first Tuesday). th st BOARD AND CARD GAMES next meeting will be on the 8 February 2018 (1 Thurs) at 1pm Convenors: Val Marris, 55A Calluna Crescent, Totara Heights, Manurewa, 2681341: Bev Stehlin, 39 Evanda Crescent, Conifer Grove, Manurewa, 298 0620: Meeting held on the 3rd November. Three people played Rummikub and two Scrabble. After the tea break, we all played Quiddler. Next games meeting is on the 7th December at 1pm. If any members wish to join us you will be most welcome. CURRENT AFFAIRS our next meeting is on 19th February, (3rd Monday), at 2pm. at Jan and Warwick's place. Convenors: Jan and Warwick May, 164 Wattle Farm Road, Wattle Downs. Phone 2669547. Topics from the 20th November meeting. After a shaky start …. As the door was locked and we didn’t hear the knocking, all went well. As usual topics were varied and interesting: Teenage troubles, rugby league world cup, government rhetoric, back to the future, digital pills, Samoan youth, early education, growing pains, Mugabe, botulism, teeth, culture of harassment, and a point of law. Take your pick! It was good to hear of an apparently successful plan where young Samoans who get into strife in NZ are helped to start again back in community life in Samoa. We meet again next Monday 19th February at 2pm at 164 Wattle Farm Road. The door will be open! EXPLORING ART: The next meeting 13th February. (Meetings held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month), - 2pm – 4pm. Convenor: Lorraine Butcher: Elmwood Retirement Village, Villa 64, 131 Hill Road Manurewa. Phone 2677562 We met on Tuesday 14th November at David and Dorothy’s house. 8 people attended. The artist discussed was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. First David talked about Lautrec’s life and his paintings. Then we saw a most interesting film about Lautrec. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, was perhaps the greatest graphic artist of his time, and is widely remembered for his bold, colourful posters of Parisian entertainers. The son of an eccentric aristocrat, he spent his childhood at the family chateau in south-west France, where he suffered the fall which broke both legs and stunted his growth. By the time he moved to Paris at the age of 17 he was ill-proportioned and dwarfish. Despite his upper-class background, Lautrec felt most at home in the night-clubs, dance-halls and brothels of Paris, where he spent his time drinking and drawing his friends and associate. His art Printed 04/03/2018 Page 2 of 4 01 U3A Newsletter 2018.docx centres entirely around the narrow life he led. He reached his peak both as a painter and poster artist in the early 1890s, before alcoholism took its toll. He died a broken, pathetic figure at the age of 36. The next meeting, 13th February 2018. HISTORY PEOPLE AND PLACES the venue and start date for the next meeting has not yet been decided. This will depend on Joan’s health Convenor: Joan Newson 14a Halsey Road, Manurewa. Phone 2676525. Meeting held on 21 November. We had a various programme that led to some interesting discussions. The way German internees were treated on Sommes Island in World War I was one topic. We had a brief history of troubles in Afghanistan, Chechnya, an internal Russian republic located in the mountainous area between the Caspian Sea, and the Black Sea and has had a history of violence and suppression over a long period. We heard about how gumboots were developed. Then there was the story of Anne of Denmark, a strong personality during the Jacobean age. The story of the Nepalese who served bravely with the British army was recounted. Perhaps the most amusing was the story of early public transport in South Auckland and the drivers. We don’t know about our next meeting or venue for it depends on Joan’s health. MAH JONG: Meetings: are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. ie from - 2pm – 4pm. Convenor: Lorraine Butcher. Villa 64, Elmwood Retirement Village, 131 Hill Road, The Gardens, Manurewa. We are still playing Mah Jong every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month All members welcome. MUSIC APPRECIATION next meeting, 23rd February 2018, (4th Friday), 2 to 4pm at Simon and Pat James' place. Convenor: Simon James 13 Lothian Brae, Wattle Downs. Phone 267 1839. Manurewa U3A – Music Appreciation Group The Music Appreciation Group’s met on Friday 24 November 2017 from 2pm to 4pm. There were 14 members present. The programme was “Vivaldi Performance Comparisons”. This was a programme of two or three different performances of the same piece of Vivaldi and the group scored each performance to make a comparison. A meeting was held on 26th January 2018 and Janice and Peggy chose the programme. If you are interested, do come along. Simon James Printed 04/03/2018 Page 3 of 4 01 U3A Newsletter 2018.docx POETS CORNER next meeting will be on the 9th February 2018. (2nd Friday) at 10am and the theme will be “AIR’. Convenor: Helen Gallot 5/14 Regent Street, Papatoetoe, Phone 278 0275. The theme for the 10th November meeting was Fire/Fiery/Feisty. 6 present and 5 apologies. Dorothea MacKellar: The Colours of Light and Fire. Robert Frost: Fire and Ice. Edmund Spencer: Ice and Fire Dylan Thomas: Ceremony After a Fire Raid Sarah Harvey: That Woman is Fire Sri Auroloinclo: Bride of the Fire Andrea Dietrich: Cinder Girl Sir Samuel Ferguson: The Forging of the Anchor William Shakespeare: Queen Margaret’s Speech, King Richard III Selected poem for reading: read by Pat, Fire and Ice. NB: there was no Poetry Group Meeting in December. STAGE AND SCREEN next meeting 26th February. (Held on the 4th Monday of the month) at 1.30pm at Janice's. Convenor: Janice Orange 16 Lynmore Drive Manurewa. Phone 266 9096. Report from 27th November – 7 members present. Items discussed: Symphony Orchestra featuring Bohemian Cello Concerto. South Auckland Choral: Handels Messiah. Lunchtime Concerts: Ensemble Waiheke (2) Cello and Piano given by 2 young players. Theatre: English Farce: “The Play that Goes Wrong”. Roger Hall’s “Bookends” ex comedy. Several exhibitions including Te Aroha Rustic Art – mainly fascinating garden art using recycled junk. Films: several including Madame and Murder on the Orient Express and Maudie. Almoner: Patricia is our Almoner. Please contact her if you know of any member who is sick, in hospital, or in need in any way. Ring 2996875. Please contact any of the Committee members if you have problems getting to the General Meetings at Acacia Cove or any of the Interest Groups. MONDAY TUESDAY WED THURSDAY FRIDAY 1st Week Book review Board and Card 10am - 12pm Games 1.30pm Mah Jong 2-4pm 2nd Week General Meeting Exploring Art Poets’ Corner 1.30pm 2pm – 4pm 10am – 12pm 3rd Week Current Affairs History and Places Board and Card 2.00pm 1.30pm Games 1.30pm Mah Jong 2-4pm 4th Week Stage and Screen Music 1.30pm Appreciation 2-4pm Printed 04/03/2018 Page 4 of 4 01 U3A Newsletter 2018.docx .